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The Venice Biennale saga took a new twist when Culture Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario distanced his ministry from the controversial ‘Kenyan’ pavilion at the event, which is to be held in less than two weeks, and where Kenya is being ‘represented’ by five Chinese and an Italian.
Kenyan artists have demanded that the pavilion should not be associated, in any way, with the country. They also demanded that the Kenyan flag be removed from the pavilion. This is not the first time foreigners are representing the country at the event. The same thing happened in the 2013 event.
The Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture, through the cabinet secretary, officially denounced the Kenyan representation set to showcase at the Venice Biennale next month, during a press conference held at the Kenyan Cultural Centre, on April 14. “The government of Kenya disassociates itself and condemns the event,” said Wario. The questionable roaster lists a total of nine individuals: five Chinese, one Kenyan, one Italian and two foreign curators.
There has been intense pressure, both locally and internationally, including an online petition, condemning the act of foreigners occupying what should be a Kenyan artistic space, and apparent inaction by the ministry.
Moving forward, the ministry will work together with a committee representing Kenyan artists, which includes Kuona Trust’s director, Sylvia Gichia, to select a more representative group to showcase at the next Venice Biennale, which will be held in 2017. Others in the committee include Judy Ogana (The GoDown Arts Centre), Lydia Galavu (National Museums of Kenya), as well as artists Wambui Kamiru, Paul Onditi,and Justus Kyalo.
Acknowledging the local artists who attended the press conference, Gichia said: “I am very glad to see everyone here, it means we are taking charge of our space. The main point is that we are not represented at the Biennale. What we are saying is that the flag at the pavilion must come down.”
Four letters are to be dispatched to the Italian embassy in Kenya, the Italian born, Kenyan citizen Armando Tanzini (who played a key role in the preparation of the Kenyan pavilion, at the Biennale in 2013 and this year), the official Venice Biennale organisers and the Kenyan embassy in Italy. The letter indicates Kenya’s disassociation with the team exhibiting in its stand. On the topic of foreign artists at the event, Wario said: “They can have the pavilion, but our name should come down; our flag too should come down.”
Wario gave re-assurance that the government is committed to changing the trend, and put in place policies to protect artists. “Our intention is to ensure that no such misrepresentation of Kenyan artists occurs in the future,” said the CS.
Two weeks ago, a group of artists had been invited to Wario’s office to discuss the matter, but could not find the minister. He later explained that he had rushed to see a relative who had been admitted at the ICU at a Nairobi hospital.
Even with the minister’s statement, it is still not clear who authorised Tanzini to ‘represent’ Kenya at the Biennalle, also known as Art Olympics. Artists suspect it is the work of crooked officials at the ministry.
